A few years ago, all printers could do was print out paper. And now, they can print just about anything from books, tools and whole assembly parts to furniture and even entire walls. This has been made possible with the help of 3D printing which is also called Additive Manufacturing.
The printing technology in this case makes use of a layering technique to create solid, 3D objects that can actually function in real time. So if you are wondering as to what these machines can print, here is a list of the best 5 items.
Furniture
Think about sitting on a sofa or bean bag that was printed by the 3D printer. When they were first invented, 3D printers were small and were capable of printing items like tools and other small prototypes. However, the recently launched printing machines have been adjusted to print out larger objects like chairs, tables, sofa sets, beds and other furniture.
Cars
Sitting on a printed furniture can be believable. But driving around the town in one? A bit farfetched don’t you think? Well, Urbee doesn’t think so. Considered to be the world’s first 3D printed car, Urbee offers several advantages over normal cars in the areas of fuel efficiency, maintenance (low) and safety.
Body Parts
People who have lost body parts like arms or legs in accidents, or are suffering from illnesses that would lead to the deterioration of certain parts of the body, can benefit greatly from 3D printing technology.The technology has enabled doctors to print whole body parts like arms and legs to help disabled individuals regain their normal lives. In addition to being healthy and comfortable, the 3D printer technology offers a less invasive treatment option for lost body parts. Successful records show several body parts like jaws and ears being printed and successfully transplanted in individuals.
Blood Vessels
Although 3D printers use UV radiation to bond the materials in specific layers, scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany have come up with a way to use laser pulses on synthetic biological molecules to create lifelike veins and capillaries that are as detailed and structured as the blood vessels found in the human body.
Food
I for one would be averse to eating something that pops out of a printer. But 3D printing technology aims to give new shapes and dimensions to traditional dishes. For instance, you can take chocolate or cheese and print it out in whatever shape or size you want.The 3D food printer developed at Cornwell University (along with the French Culinary Institute at New York) employs the use of a print head and a syringe to print out softer foods in whatever design has been mentioned in the digital blueprint.
